Abir Chatterjee has proved him as the ‘perfect’ actor to play the popular Bengali detective role ‘Bomkesh Bakshi’. West Bengal-based actor Abir Chatterjee recently gave Times of India an interview. Here is a select excerpt from the interview:

You are a dhoti-clad detective in Byomkesh. Can you drape a dhoti in real life?

To be honest, I cannot drape a dhoti on my own. It’s quite a challenge and I always need help with it. But once I’m wearing one, I’m comfortable in it. My dhoti has never fallen off on sets. I can hop, skip and jump in one.

How was the experience of ‘Byomkesh Pawrbo’?

After the stupendous success of Har Har Byomkesh, the idea was to make Byomkesh Pawrbo even better. It’s a more intense and edgy thriller. It was a tiring schedule. 31 locations, 24 days of outdoor followed by six days in Kolkata. People have shown their love for HHB, now it’s time for them to show the same love for Byomkesh Pawrbo. There’s always a risk of becoming self-complacent in the second film of a franchise, but that’s a myth. I’ve put my heart and soul into this film.

How comfortable were you pulling off daredevil stunts while shooting?

There are chase sequences, hand-to-hand combat, lathi fight. I have bled, almost broke my finger and was left with a dozen bruises all over. So Nandini asked me, ‘Did you go for a shoot or a boxing match?’ But then again, Byomkesh is worth the pain and the risks. It has given me so much popularity; it was only time for me to give it back.

There is a rumour that you do not react well to falling out of favour with directors who do not repeat you in their films?

On the contrary, I’ve been extremely lucky with most of my directors repeating me in their films. I’ve done four films each with Babuda (Sandip Ray), Arindam Sil and Anjan Dutt. Srijit (Mukherji), Raj Chakrabarty, Sudeshna Roy-Abhijit Guha and Kaushikda (Ganguly) too have repeat-cast me in their films. Besides, it’s never anger. I’m not just an actor; I’m a member of the audience too and in that capacity, entitled to an opinion. And isn’ abhiman an emotion that’s reserved for those close to us?

Thirty-four films later, Abir Chatterjee is still the most relatable actor to the Byomkesh franchise!

There’s nothing wrong with people identifying me with an iconic character. Films on characters like Byomkesh and Feluda have an upper hand when it comes to box office owing to their familiarity with the audience. I’m extremely proud of films like ‘Abby Sen’, ‘Bastushaap’, ‘Hrid Majhare’ and ‘The Royal Bengal Tiger’. If artistes like Girish Kasaravalli and Soumitra Chatterjee can praise me after watching Abby Sen, I think I’ve done a good job. Soumitra jethu said it was one of the most delightful watches in recent times with very subtle performances. It’s not my responsibility if people have missed these films.

Isn’t Rajkahini a film you are proud of?

No. I think I misread and misinterpreted the script and it was entirely my fault.

Is it true that your views on Rajkahini had something to do with Jisshu’s performance in the film?

This is my interview so let’s stick to questions about me. But while we are on the subject, I’d like to congratulate Jisshu on the splendid work he’s doing.

There is never been a rumour of your link-up with an actress. Is it a ‘perfect husband image’ or are you just plain lucky?

I’m not a perfect husband. Nobody can be a perfect husband or a perfect father because there’s no such thing as perfect. Besides, I’m not eligible to be a controversial figure.

And, what are the eligibility criteria?

One has be to very showy. I’m inherently a reserved person and I spend as less time as possible at parties or social events. I’ve not come across a rule book that says extramarital affair is mandatory if you are an actor. And had I been in one, would it have been possible to keep it under wraps for long? And especially with so many intelligent people around me in the industry, I don’t think I’m smart enough to pull off an affair and go unnoticed.

So you have never been attracted to a co-star?

I’m too obsessed with myself to be obsessed with anyone else.

Do you have any friend in the industry?

I can never share the kind of friendship I have with a college friend with someone from the industry. But among my contemporaries, I’m good friends with Param (Parambrata Chatterjee) and Jeet.